Aiko’s eyes gleamed sharply as she continued. “Not for a guildmaster. They delegate. They send their assistants or have others handle such errands for them. A guildmaster isn’t just
seen… anywhere.”
Yuuto stutterd, “B-but… the mall is a place everyone goes to…” His voice trailed off, clearly feeling outmatched by Aiko’s forceful logic.
Lady Aiko sighed softly, adjusting her cracked glasses. “Sir, it’s not about what everyone does. It’s about maintaining a certain image. You’re the face of this guild. If you’re seen casually walking around doing mundane tasks, it undermines your position. People will question your leadership.”
Yuuto frowned, clearly struggling with the idea. “But… shouldn’t a leader be approachable? What’s wrong with being seen among the people?”
Aiko’s eyes narrowed. “Approachability is one thing. Being seen as an equal, another. You must command respect, even when you’re out of sight. And respect comes from maintaining a certain distance. A guildmaster isn’t just a person, sir. You’re a symbol. Act like one.”
Yuuto opened his mouth to argue but stopped, seeing the resolve in Aiko’s gaze. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright, alright. You’ve made your point… I’ll stay behind and handle things here.”
Aiko nodded, satisfied with his agreement. “Good, sir. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have business to attend to.”
Yuuto watched them for a moment longer, a look of understanding on his face. “Take care out there,” he said, waving them off as they prepared to leave.
Lila, who had been standing awkwardly to the side the whole time, shot a nervous glance at the guildmaster before following behind Aiko and Alister.
The tension finally seemed to ease as they walked away, but Lila couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated from here.
As Yuuto watched them walk away, he couldn’t help but let out a long, weary sigh. His silver eyes followed their figures, lingering for a moment on Aiko’s back. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, filled with both amusement and a touch of nostalgia.
“Kids grow up so fast,” he murmured to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “When was the last time she talked back to me like that?”
He tried to recall a time when Aiko had been more reserved, hesitant even, to speak her mind so bluntly. Now, there she was, standing her ground, commanding respect not only from the guild members but even from him, her father, the guildmaster. He smiled faintly, a touch of pride and exasperation filling his chest.
“Guess I’ve got myself to blame for encouraging her all those years,” Yuuto muttered with a sigh, running a hand through his silver hair. “She’s become sharper than I ever imagined.”
He stood there a moment longer, watching as the group disappeared from view as they took one of the guild’s transports.
Despite the frustration of being left behind, he couldn’t deny the warmth swelling in his heart. After all, it meant he had trained her well.
As Yuuto stood there lost in thought, he felt a faint vibration in his pocket. His brow furrowed slightly as he reached into his guild uniform and pulled out a small, metallic white cube. With a quick tap on its surface, the cube expanded smoothly, transforming into a phone.
The screen illuminated, revealing a name that made Yuuto narrow his silver eyes.
Without pausing, he answered the call, as he began walking back toward the guild’s main building.
“It’s been a long while since we last spoke,” Yuuto greeted, with a small note of respect. “What’s the occasion?”
There was a brief pause on the other end, and whatever was said made Yuuto stop in his tracks, his expression turning slightly serious. His gaze shifted toward the ground, deep in thought.
“A private meeting?” he echoed, his voice now quieter, more serious. He resumed walking, his pace slower than before as he processed the man’s words.
“Alright then… when do you plan to visit?”
…
As they sat in the self-driving vehicle, the sounds of its engine were barely audible, and an awkward silence filled the air.
Lila fidgeted in her seat, glancing occasionally at Cinder, who sat beside Alister, her gaze fixed ahead calmly. Alister, seated across from them, seemed lost in his own thoughts.
Lila bit her lip, feeling the weight of the quiet between them, and finally decided to break it. “So… Cinder,” Lila began cautiously, her voice low as she glanced at the powerful summon, “do you, uh… know if Alister likes anything in particular?”
Cinder didn’t turn to face her, but Lila felt the sharpness of her attention immediately shift in her direction. After a long pause, Cinder’s crimson eyes slid to the side, locking onto Lila with a narrowed gaze.
“What exactly are you asking?” Cinder’s voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it, one that made Lila stiffen.
Lila swallowed, her heart racing slightly. “I-I mean, like… if there’s something he enjoys. You know, like hobbies or favorite things. Something that makes him happy.”
For a moment, Cinder remained silent, her gaze nerve-racking, as if assessing Lila’s intent. Then she spoke, her tone cold.
“Even if I did know… why would I tell you?”
Her words hung in the air, the silence that followed even heavier than before. Lila shifted uncomfortably, her attempt to ease things backfiring. She quickly averted her eyes, realizing that she had struck a nerve with Cinder.
Alister, who had been silent throughout, glanced briefly between the two but chose not to intervene, letting the uneasy quiet return.
Lady Aiko, seated at the front of the self-driven vehicle, had been quietly watching the trio in the back. Her sharp gaze shifted from Lila, who seemed uncomfortable, to Cinder, whose cold demeanor hadn’t eased up, and finally to Alister, who remained stoic, seemingly unfazed by
the tension.
Adjusting her glasses, she sighed softly. She then tapped a small screen on the dashboard. The self-driving vehicle responded instantly, slowing down. Aiko didn’t look back at them as she
then spoke.
“We’re here.”
As the vehicle smoothly came to a halt, bright daylight flooded the windows. Outside was the entrance of a large, modern shopping mall, its glass reflecting the midday sun, a massive holographic advertisement board up front. People walked in and out, going about their daily
lives.
Aiko turned slightly in her seat, casting a glance at the three of them. “Get yourselves ready,” she said, her tone holding a hint of exasperation as she watched their reactions. “We have
shopping to do.”
….
In his now-repaired office, Guild Master Yuuto was bathed in the warm morning light, casting long shadows across the room.
The scent of polished wood and incense lingered in the air, adding a touch of calm to the spacious office. Behind his desk, Yuuto sat with his hands clasped together, silver eyes
studying the figure standing in front of him.
Jian of the Li family stood tall, his posture rigid and tense. One could tell from a single glance the man was in a foul mood.
His expression was calm yet serious, brows slightly furrowed as if the weight of his thoughts
was too heavy to lift.
There was no mistaking the intensity in his gaze, the sharpness that could cut through
boulders.
He wore his family’s colors-a deep crimson cloak fastened by a gold clasp an outward display of the Li family’s power and pride.
Yuuto could tell this man was definitely here to cause some sort of trouble, though he chose
to greet him with a smile.
“Jian,” Yuuto greeted warmly, gesturing for him to take a seat. “It’s been a while since we’ve had the pleasure of your company at the White Comet Guild. How have things been with you? I trust your family is doing well?”
Jian nodded and took the offered seat, though he remained stiff, as if sitting was merely a formality. His hands rested on his lap, fingers tapping lightly against his thigh.
“Things have been… eventful…” Jian replied, his voice sounding edged. At the same time, it
was as if he was referring to something the White Comet Guild did that he wasn’t bold enough
to say in front of Yuuto’s face.
Or maybe he chose not to say so just yet.
“The family is well, but with Kai’s passing…” His words trailed off briefly, allowing the weight of his son’s death to hang in the air. There was no need to elaborate further. Yuuto nodded slightly, his face softening. “I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. Kai was a promising young man. I know that such a tragedy cannot be easy for your family.” The mention of Kai seemed to intensify the air around Jian, his eyes darkening slightly as he glanced at the floor, gritting his teeth slightly.
“No, it hasn’t been easy,” he said calmly, not giving in to the tempest of emotions inside him. “But the Li family has always been resilient. We will endure.”